Finding an Internship in the City

One of the most unique things about being a student at DePaul is the limitless opportunities we have within the city. From great food to live music, tons of museums and amazing architecture, Chicago is chock full of amazing things to do and see. On the more professional side of things, the city is also filled with tons of opportunities for students who are eager to test their knowledge in the real world. Internships are a great way to earn class credit, learn from professionals first hand, and give students an edge when applying for jobs post-grad. Finding the perfect internship isn’t easy, and most positions are pretty competitive.But don’t let the fear of finding an internship overwhelm you. Here are some tips and resources that helped me when I was looking for my first internship:

Handshake: DePaul makes getting an internship so much easier with their online career platform site that is exclusively for DePaul students. Handshake has thousands of jobs and internships listed, as well as career-related events and resources. Because the site is for DePaul students only, it’s a great resource that can help you gain an edge over the competition.

Career Center: The career center is an amazing resource that DePaul offers and students should definitely be taking advantage of it. When I was looking for internships, I met with an advisor several times to strengthen my resume and create focused and concise cover letters for various positions. The career center also offers interview tips, career fairs, advising, and so much more.

Clubs: Joining one of DePaul’s many professional clubs is a great way to meet people with similar interests and start networking with professionals outside of DePaul. Many of these clubs have networking events that can help you build connections and may even lead to a job or internship.

Follow up: This is a simple tip that can make all the difference in scoring an amazing internship. Following up with companies you have applied to can make you stand out from other applicants and give you a competitive edge. A simple email or phone call is a great way to show employers how interested you are in the position.

Email notifications: There are tons of job websites out there that can notify you when new companies are looking for an intern. Sites like Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn are always posting new jobs and internships for college students. A lot of these sites have a weekly email notification that tells you which companies are currently hiring.